Every week each member of the PennLive.com High School Football team will each offer you a trio of tasty tidbits we affectionately called What’s Hot-What’s Not.
HOT LIST
Really, James Buchanan and Middletown?: This is one of 482 reasons my partner, Eric Epler, and I love high school football. You could have easily scored a few monopoly dollars from my wallet had you said entering Week 5 that the Blue Raiders and Rockets combined would have five wins. Watching teams rise from the ashes and shake the tree of success is pure sports nirvana from my chair. Combined those two clubs were 1-19 last season.
Buzzword at Cedar Cliff is defense: My apologies to the Colts’ defensive coaching staff. You guys will need to find some new bulletin board material as motivation for your troops. The no respect card is being taken off the table. A year ago this group couldn’t get out of its own way, or tackle for that matter. But in 2013, the defense is holding serve with that high-powered offense. Through four games, the Colts have surrendered only 48 total points. A year ago that was about five quarters worth of points allowed. The biggest question mark surrounding this team has provided plenty of answers this first month.
Quick Keystone Division numbers crunch: The numbers geek in me comes out each week when the District 3 power rankings come out. I seek out the opponents winning percentage number to get the full picture. Here’s the OWWP for the eight Mid-Penn Keystone squads (in order): Palmyra .835; Susquehanna Twp. .748; Hershey .743; Bishop McDevitt .732; Lower Dauphin .729; Red Land .704; Mechanicsburg .696; Cedar Cliff .615. When your lowest squad is above .600 … that is one strong group of teams. Overall the division owns a 24-8 record. Those numbers will dip as they beat each other up over the next six weeks. Quality non-divisional schedule overall, with plenty of victories.
NOT HOT LIST
About that Week 4 hammer schedule: With so many of what appeared to be “juice” games on the docket for Friday and Saturday, it was tough to choose the one game to cover each night. I settled on CD East at Cumberland Valley on Friday night and State College at Harrisburg Saturday afternoon. I was pumped for each game, but the reality was each contest wasn’t all the entertaining. The Eagles executed the life out of CD East. And Harrisburg’s issues came to a full bloom courtesy of State College. Combined final score of those two games … 61-14. Cedar Cliff rolled Hershey with relative easy thanks to big plays. Steel-High 51, Trinity 0. Who saw that score coming? Mechanicsburg put up a valiant fight against Bishop McDevitt despite playing without its starting QB and RB. That will pay dividends down the road. But in the end the Crusaders did what they do. The best of the lot was Chambersburg edging Central Dauphin. But it took a late Rams rally to make that one a tight squeeze.
Sandy lie at Cumberland Valley: I’ve always been a big fan of football on natural grass. But I’m beginning to sway to the land of the turf monster. I’ve been going to games at Harry Chapman Field since 1992 (not a typo)! I know every few years the turf is an issue at CV, but then they put some extra cash into it and then it’s very good again for a few years. But I’ve never seen the surface at The Chap in this poor of shape so early in the season. It reminded me of playing golf in Florida – more sand than grass. Maybe it’s time for turf. I don’t know all the costs involved. I just know it’s expensive. But to see that surface in such rough condition has me pondering.
Pair of struggling traditional powers: The handwriting was on the wall, but I chose to take off my glasses (when I do that I can’t read a lick) when it came to Harrisburg and Central Dauphin. I was fully aware of what each Commonwealth Division staple had lost. And I knew each had only six starters back. And I figured each would have some growing pains. But a combined 3-5 at this point, with only one easy victory among those three wins, was nowhere on my radar. I know each club has suffered a couple key injuries. But neither will let those serve as an excuse. But they are a reason. Alas, the Rams and Cougars are clubs trying to forge their own niche. And it’s been a rough ride this first month.
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